I called friends in Vancouver, WA & arranged to meet them for lunch. After all this traveling alone & meeting new people, it was really good to see some old friends. And it turned out that E’s daughter is a really talented artist, and I got to meet her & see some of her work.

Then got to Olympia, WA, called another old friend & chatted for a while.

April 26 I made a speed-trip to Pt Townsend to pick up some stuff from storage and had lunch with a friend I’d missed in my last whirlwind visit. We ate at The Spot, and had wonderful soup! I’ve never seen a “soup sampler” before (3 different kinds of yummy soup!) and it was great.

Then on to Seattle where P&J met me & helped me move all my gypsy stuff into their apt. Went out to dinner & saw their beautiful new house, and then “home” to my first night in my new digs in West Seattle.

April 27-29 So… I’m kind of settling in… This is the first time I’ve lived in a “city” (They tell me West Seattle is a place apart…) Not sure what’s next, but I’ve got all my gadgets hooked up & am getting the laundry done. I’ve gotten to see both of my boys & my DIL-to-be, which is great; I’ve really missed them!

I’m going to PT tomorrow… (storage again!) managed to get all my errands (oil change, haircut, etc) arranged so that I can be there on a Friday, which means (YES!) I get to go to Conversation Cafe and see a LOT of friends all at once. I need to do a post on Conv Cafe, b/c it’s one of my favorite things.

Can you believe… this trip was over 7000 miles, and Max the Prius did not have a single problem? I heart that car! And I did not lose one single electronic charger. And only ate fast food one time (Post, TX) I’m very proud of us! But I need a nap now…

Sunset @ Gold Beach, OR

April 19- Spent another day in Mendocino/Ft Bragg.  I went to see the Sea Glass Beach in Ft Bragg. It is absolutely amazing. The sea hits what used to be Ft Bragg’s town dump, and all the broken glass is churned until it covers the cove. Here’s an idea of what it looks like. I do collect sea glass, but it’s verboten to collect here, so I stuck my hands in my pockets & left it for others to enjoy.

Then went to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden. Because it was a weekday, I had it almost to myself. I wandered all over. Checked out the organic vegetable garden, the benches overlooking the ocean and the Cliff House, which is great for stormy days. It’s about 1/2 a mile each way from the entrance to the ocean cliff.

Finally, I went back to Mendocino. And stumbled on the cutest shop- Perfume Mendo! (aka Gallery of the Senses). It’s run by a couple. He makes furniture grade stereo speakers; she has the widest range of perfumes I’ve ever seen. (and yes, I’ve been to Nordstrom). They even have their own blends. I tried about a hundred, but came out with the first one suggested- Mendocino Midnight. Smells like campfire, musk, something floral and maybe a hint of… cannabis?

April 20- Mostly spent driving to Arcata. I took the slowest, most scenic route. That means I saw a LOT of ocean & a LOT of redwoods. I also stopped in Loleta, CA to taste and buy cheese.  And of course, drove through Ferndale to see the beautiful Victorians. And btw, a lot of beautiful Jersey cows. If you’re a fan of Humboldt ice cream, this is where it comes from!

I mainly spent the night in Arcata & then pushed on. My hotel’s internet connection was down, which put me in a cranky mood. But yes, I should have spent more time in Eureka & Arcata.

April 21- I drove and drove and drove. Mostly scenic byways. Saw an elk herd, lots of redwoods, lots of beaches. I’ll never tire of that. At one point, when I was really drooping, I passed a sign that read: San Francisco 230 miles. OMG! That was last Saturday. I’m really moving slowly now, but this coast is one of my favorite places, and it’s been a long time.

I finally made it into Oregon. And drove for a while, thinking to get up to Bandon. But… I was passing thru Gold Beach, and decided to eat. And then I decided to stay. I found a really cute place, and got a room that overlooks the whole beach! With a balcony! So I’m staying 2 nights

Lots of new photos!

Hasta luego!

Sedona Pink Jeep Tours- Since 1959!

I ended up staying 3 nights in Sedona. Could easily have stayed longer; I really liked it there. There are lots of photos on flickr.

Most of what I was doing was plain old resting up. But I also got the car’s oil changed, did laundry, took a Pink Jeep tour, explored the town and ate at the Barking Frog. (Cactus Fries are terrific! Think nopales salad, but breaded & fried. OMG…)

The Jeep tour was great! It wasn’t too strenuous, but I got to walk around & inspect a cliff dwelling. It was so amazing to see the fingerprints in the mortar. And there were LOTS of pictographs & some petroglyphs as well. The weather was absolutely perfect, and what was amazing is that I called @ 7AM & was able to get in on a tour @ 8:30. They really have a very streamlined operation.

Let’s see, the first day was windy, so I mostly explored the town via the Trolley. It was fun, but I’m still not in a shopping mood. I think I bought a latte And an oil change.

I didn’t really get into the vortex thing… I did go in a very nice New Age shop & chatted w/the owner a bit. And later on, went into a bookstore where I bought “Chakra Tonics” which actually has a very good description of chakras, and some good recipes.

Basically, I was just resting & letting my soul catch up w/my body again. Tonight I’m in Bakersfield, and then I’ll be in Fresno for Thurs- Sun.

Coming down into the Valley from AZ made me realize all over again that California is still “home” to me, whatever home means. The Mojave is blooming, but seeing those green-furred hills with live oaks… well, it’s one of my homeplaces.

Los Colores- Orlando's in Taos

Ok, when I last left you, I had arrived in Taos, NM- barely. I’d really been looking forward to Taos, and a lot of friends whose opinions I trust love it.

Maybe it was the weather (really nasty cold windy) or me (really cold exhausted road-weary- possibly nasty), but it was kind of a let down. The first morning, when I was almost human again, I jumped (ok levered myself) into the car & took a tour around town @ about 7, before the traffic got heavy. Kind of marked a few places to visit when things opened.

I hadn’t had anything to eat for way too long, so I had brunch @ Orlando’s, which I can highly recommend if you like New Mexican food. Which is quite different from Mexican food. Their posole had a lot more hominy, and everything was muy picante (HOT!) which is how I like it.

Anyway, I went to a few little shops but one, I was tired and two, it’s kind of stupid to buy things when you’re living out of suitcases & will be for quite a while. So really the only impact I made in Taos was 2 nights in a hotel, a meal and a car wash. Sorry, guys.

Easter Sunday, I drove to Sedona. It was mainly me and the semis. And as I drove down the Oak Creek Canyon road (this is after 8 hrs of driving or so), I really did feel all the strain just leave me. I felt as if I’d just gotten out of bed. So I stopped the car & took a little walk.

You know how I feel about red rock. (If you don’t, go back & read about Moab.) Today I’m going to poke around. Take care of some business (laundry, oil change.) But mainly poke around. Take a look at the Chamber of Commerce site. Where else does Metaphysical & Spiritual Services have its own listing?

Just added a few quick pictures. The light was weird, so this doesn’t do Sedona justice @ all.

San Antonio Riverwalk Stage

Today I keep thinking of that song by Fountains of Wayne: Seatbacks and Traytables.  “An X on the calendar square- new city, same stuff.” I’m starting to feel that I’m moving too fast.

Yesterday I walked the Riverwalk in San Antonio for a while. Absolutely beautiful. No, I didn’t go to the Alamo. But walking back, I noticed that my hotel was @ the crossroads of Houston, Starr and Bowie. And down the street was the Crockett hotel. Yep, that’s Texas.

Then off to Austin. I stopped first @ Wholefoods in the warehouse district. MY GOODNESS. I totally love Austin. I could stay for a few months. I just love the spirit & energy (and music & food) here. This is a Sara-ish sort of place. And it was in the 80′s already. (I do like heat- a lot!) This is one of the places I’d like to re-visit.

So now I’m holed up in my hotel. Did my laundry (I have to say, that was a wonderful thing.) And downloaded some new tunes & burned some CDs. Now I’m packing it all up to head toward Santa Fe. It’ll take 2 days, so I’ll just drive ’til I get tired & then pull in.

Oh, are you keeping up w/my pix?

Hasta luego!

Texas

Texas is big. Really big. I’m going to be here for a while. Yesterday, I drove from Sulphur, LA to San Antonio. It’s wildflower season, and we all owe a debt to Ladybird Johnson, b/c these highways are gorgeous! The bluebells & all kinds of things are blooming.

So far, I’m not a fan of Houston (ugh) but after that, the hill country starts, and oh my. Another place I’d like to spend a few months getting to know.

Today I’m going to explore the Riverwalk (I know, it’s touristy. That’s ok.) And then drive about 1.5 hours to AUSTIN. Yes, I’m really excited about that. Today’s the farmers market, and the Guthrie family is playing live (I”m trying to decide whether to see them there or when they’re in Kent, WA, on May 1 when I can go w/some of my peeps. But I’m thinking Kent.)

Also found out Krisna Das is in Santa Fe. NOW. Doggone it. I will hear that man sing kirtan someday, but so far it’s not working out.

My other big entertainment is listening to local radio stations. Heard some really fabulous R&B near Biloxi, MS. In TX, I’m listening to KUT. And you can listen online.

Later, ‘tater!

Boudin and Cracklin's. It's what's for dinner.

I confess, until I pulled into the Boudin place, I did not know what a boudin was.

Check the link- we’re talking boudin blanc, because this is Arcadia. It’s very very good, but the cracklin’s… Oh my. Like chicharrones (pork rinds), but cut small & individually spiced.  And tasso is another kind of sausage that I like even more than boudin. It’s a very good thing I don’t live here, or I’d start to look like Paul Prudhomme in a matter of days.

Also stopped in a cute little town outside New Orleans, called Covington. Very quaint, and they had all kinds of cute little shops. Unfortunately, every one (including moms of the headband/minivan type) think that they are NASCAR drivers, & go racing up & down the cute little streets. Kinda scary. But I did get a new blouse, a double Americano (after I explained what it was) and a really good curry chicken salad.

Let’s see… I skipped New Orleans. Not the kind of place I want to go by  myself- at least not this time. I did manage to get to Baton Rouge during rush hr, which isn’t as dumb as it sounds. I got to cross the Mississippi very slowly & really take it in.

I went over lots of bridges today, including a very long piece of highway built above a bayou. So a little of everything. Tonight I’m in a weird little place called Sulphur, LA that seems to be huge oil & industrial facilities. I’m about 50 miles from Beaumont, TX. Heading for San Antonio tomorrow. No, I never did find Tupelo honey!

St George Lighthouse

So… Saturday I took off from Manasota Key & headed for Tallahassee & the panhandle. My challenge: stone crabs & Tupelo honey.

First, let me say that FL traffic really is that bad. There were a couple BIG pileups, and another that almost happened when the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes while going 80 mph. I thought heading north on a Sat would be smart. Ha.

Anyway, I arrived at Tallahassee kind of tired & stressed out, so decided to stay the night. Sun AM, I just had a hard time getting going. I’d planned to drive to Gulf Shores, AL, taking time to visit St George, Mexico Beach & anything else that caught my fancy.

Instead, I dinked around Tallahassee all morning, went a little north to Havana, FL (just so I could say I went to Havana this yr.) Havana is really cute… but a combination of the economy tanking and a really cold winter has done a lot of the touristy type businesses in. The churches were crowded, but I couldn’t find anywhere to eat.

Then I went to St George & checked out the beach, lighthouse, etc. Really liked it. It’s sort of a family resort, with lots of cute beach rentals. The sand is beautiful & it looks like there’s some shelling. I did see 3 jellyfish washed up on the shore, though.

Next stop was a raw bar, where I thought I’d find stone crabs (oh, I was stopping just about every possible place.) The raw bar was closed, but a nice lady directed me to a possible seafood place down the road. Nope. But I did get some really excellent shrimp dip & eat it with celery.

That was about the time (3PM) that I realized I had 6 more hours to drive to reach Gulf Shores, where I had a hotel reservation. Whoops. So took of like my tail was on fire, with only a brief stop for a double Americano in Mexico Beach. I chatted w/the woman there, and Mexico Beach sounds like my kind of place.

Only two hotels; it’s mostly beach rentals. And the city owns a lot of the coastline, so unlike most of the panhandle, the beaches are easily accessible to the public. (What a concept.)

Gulf Shores is close to opposite. I’m having the same reaction I had to Puerta Vallarta- get me out of here! It’s spring break. ‘Nuff said.

So Max, Seymour & I are headed west again. Should get to either Louisiana or TX today. Hasta luego! (Oh, consensus is that it’s too cold for stone crabs yet, and I cannot for the life of me find Tupelo honey. I will, though!)

Beautiful day in FL again. It’s a little chilly (they say) but a perfect day for wandering around downtown Venice w/my aunt, mostly window-shopping.

Tomorrow, I’m on my way to the FL panhandle, with a couple of gorgeous new bathing suits. Good incentive to keep eating seafood & salads.

Here’s some fun stuff for your wkend.

• Vegetarian Zombies
• I heart this guy, even if he’s a Texan.
• Grammar Geek comes out to play! (Of course, I don’t patronize businesses that spell their names incorrectly for the “cute” factor. No Krispy Kremes for me!)
• OK, Facebook is totally out of control
• Hey, I’m in FL. Anything could happen.

Manatee- Really!

Well, I washed up @ AJ & UD’s place on Manasota Key Tues evening. It was a LOOOONG drive from Savannah, but we made it fine. Max (the Prius) and Seymour, the sock monkey navigator, are doing a terrific job.

Having an aunt and uncle w/beachfront property & a boat totally rocks. I highly recommend it. Especially if they’re fun to hang out with as well.

Yesterday, we motored out to the Fishery, where I had gator for the first time. Now I don’t have to do that again. The shrimp/spinach salad was exquisite.

There was a mama manatee & her baby in the water outside the restaurant. Above is the picture   Manatees are even more unphotogenic than I. (My aunt actually said yesterday “That’s a pretty good picture- for Sara.” I’m legendary.)

But we also saw: Osprey (lots), dolphins (lots), pelicans (lots.) Probably other things that I”m forgetting. And I’m working on a tan. Slow going… I have to sneak up on it to fool the freckles.

Then home for dinner of mostly hors oeuvres from Morton’s. The pepper- crab soup is unbelievable. And the dips are great, too. And then off to bed. A whole new day awaits.